History of Clinton County, Ohio Its People, Industries, and Institutions, with Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families, Part 54

Author: Albert J. Brown (A.M.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : W.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1108

USA > Ohio > Clinton County > History of Clinton County, Ohio Its People, Industries, and Institutions, with Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families > Part 54

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On October 3, 1865, the late Charles Pierson Richardson was married to Miss Jane Villars, who is the daughter of James and Frances (Gregg) Villars, the former of whom was born on October 20, 1800, in Jefferson township, Greene county, Pennsylvania, and who died on June 20, 1890, the latter of whom, her mother having died when she was a child, was reared by Mrs. Woodmansee. She was the daughter of George and Margaret ( Wiley ) Gregg.

James Villars was the sou of James and Rebecca ( Davidson) Villars. James, Jr., was reared on a farm and was six years old when his parents removed from Pennsyl- vanla to Deerfield, Portage county, Ohio, where they remained one year. At the end of that period they removed to Washington township, Warren county, where they purchased fifty acres of land, and afterward one hundred acres nearby. In the summer of 1811 they purchased three hundred and sixty-four acres of land in Clinton county, adjoining the farm where James, Jr., later lived. They moved to this farm in the fall of 1813, after they had some land cleared, a house was built, the floors of which were laid with wide black walnut boards. This old log house still stands and is used for an outhouse, and some Improvements made and the crops planted. They had ten children, six sons and four daughters. In August, 1823, James Villars, Sr., died and the care of the family and the charge of the farm fell to James, Jr., who purchased the Interest of the other heirs in the homestead and who lived with his mother.

The first schooling of James Villars was obtained in 1807 in a small round log cabin, daubed with mud, with a stick and clay chimney and roofed with clapboards. It had a dirt floor and stood about thirty rods west of the iron bridge, north of the turn- pike and about three-fourths of a mile west of Clarksville. When he was eight or nine years old, James Villars, Jr., attended school at another place, but in a building similar to the first. The third school he attended was in a log school house with a stick and clay chimney at each end and with a writing desk through the center. It stood between a quarter and a half mile south of where the Mt. Pleasant meeting house stood. His fourth experience was in a vacated log house two and one-half miles eust of Clarksville, on the banks of Sewell's run. He had to walk three miles to this school, but finally he attended school in a building formerly used as a horse-mill, which was fitted up and used as a Methodist chapel in Wilmington, and as a matter of fact was the first Meth- odist chapel ever built there. It was also used for school purposes.

On June 15, 1830, James Villars, Jr., was married to Frances Gregg. They had ten children, as follow : Rebecca, Jobn W., Mary D., Rachel, George W., James M., Jane F., Hiram J., Samuel HI. and Alfred T. Rebecca died at the age of twenty-four; John W. died at the age of fifty-five, a farmer by occupation; Mary D. married Simeon Cast and they lived on a farm in Washington township, both of whom are now deceased; Rachel

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married Ed. Mulford, a resident of Warren county, Ohio, who is now deceased ; George W. died at the age of twenty-one; James M. died at the age of nineteen : Jane F. is the widow of Mr. Richardson; Hiram J. lives in Montana, and Alfred T., who owned his father's home place, is deceased.

In 1537 James Villars, Jr., purchased the farm where he lived until his death, which consisted of three hundred and sixty-one acres. After buying this farm be did nothing more to it until the spring of 1848. He was an industrious man and a careful manager, accumulating a large amount of land. Before his death he was one of the heaviest landowners in Clinton county. Hle owned six hundred acres of land in Clark and U'nion counties, Illinois, beside twelve hundred acres, which he gave to his children. Hle built a fine brick chapel on part of his land, at a cost of fourteen thousand dollars and presented this to the Methodist Protestant church, of which he and his wife were mem- bers for a number of years, they having joined the church together in 1845. Before this they had been members of the Methodist Episcopal church, which Mr. Villars had joined in 1816. He also purchased the Baptist church of Clarksville, on which be expended about three thousand dollars. He was a local dencon and an ordained minister in the Methodist Protestant church and later an elder. He had been a trustee ever since he built the chapel, and held the office of township trustee and supervisor for several years. Ilis beloved wife died on June 7, 1881, and be died, as heretofore stated, In Jime, 1890.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Plerson Richardson had nine children, six of whom are still living. The deceased children are Howard, the third born, who first saw the light of day, March 21. 169. and who died at the age of six years; Hornee, who died at the age of thirty-one, and Lillie, who died at the age of seven weeks. The living children are James Pierson, Charles Hinkle, Walter G., Frances, Herman and Bessie. James Plerson was born on July 12, 1566, and lives in Adrian, Michigan, where he is a piano maker. He was a missionary in Japan nine years; Charles Hinkle. December 20, 1867. and Hives on the home place. is a farmer: Walter G. also lives on the home place: Frances mar- ried George Sewell, and they live In Vernon township; Herman lives on the home piace, and Bessie, who Is unmarried, Hives with Mrs. Pierson.

Mrs. Pierson is an ardent member of the Methodist Protestant church and prom- Inent in the religious life of this community. Mr. Richardson was not only an enter- prising farmer, but he was a good citizen and a good man. one who was entitled to the esteem and confidence of his fellows and one who enjoyed this confidence and esteem in a large measure.

ROBERT LIVINGSTON OWENS.

One of the country's largest manufacturers, a man who has received more than Imssing note by reason of the methods he employs in securing ungrudging and efficient service on the part of his small army of employees, and whose close personal relations with the men who have helped to make the product of his factory a household word throughout the country is a matter of common knowledge, upon being asked : "What do you call a man?" quickly answered : "One who stands four square to the world in refer- enee to the functions that should be absolutely right, with regard to himself, those who are dependent upon him, and society in general." Upon being asked to extend his defini- tion so as to cover the process of "making a man," he declared that he made men "hy the application of horse sense." This, of course, but emphasizes. by giving personal authority to the utterauce, a truth that is not only self-evident, but widely accepted. It Invariably is found that those men who really do stand four square to the world in all the relations of life are the men who are possessed of what has commonly come to be known as "horse sense." upon the proper exercise of which they base the success which, without exception, follows their efforts. Happily, there are many such men in Clinton county, among the best known of whom perhaps is Robert L. Owens, the enter-

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prising and progressive bridge man, of Wilmington, this county, general manager and treasurer of the Champion Bridge Company.

Robert Livingston Owens was born at Mainsville, Warren county, Ohio, on August 21. 1×66, the only son of George W. and Margaret (Irwin) Owens, the former of whom was born in Bedford county, Virginia, on August 26, 1832, and died at his home in Wilmington, this county, on January 4. 150G, and the latter of whom was born in War- ren county, this state, on March 22, 1>33, and died on September 26, 1898, to whom were born but two children, the other child being a daughter, Mrs. Jessie T. Arebaugh, of Wilmington. George W. Owens was the son of Tallinferro and Pamelia (Tucker) Owens, both natives of Virginia, of good old colonial families, the fathers of both of whom took valiant parts In the struggle of the American patriots during the Revolu- tionary War, other representatives of these families also having done well their various parts during the War of 1812. Margaret Irwin was the daughter of Robert and Lydia (Cox) Irwin, pioneers of Warren county, this state and prominent and Influential real- dents therein.

Robert L. Owens was but four years of age when his parents came from Virginia to this county, locating in WHmington, and consequently has lived the most of his life in Clinton county, there now being few men in the county better known than he. He received his education in the Wiludington schools and was graduated from the high school there in the year 1854, following which he spent four years as a student in the Cincinnati Art Academy, becoming thoroughly grounded in the art of drawing aud its correlative science. Upon leaving school he was engaged by the Champion Bridge Com- pany of Wilmington in the capacity of traveling salesman, with headquarters at Cincin- nati. He later transferred his services to the Queen City Bridge Company, of Cincin- nati, as a traveling salesman, still Inter going to the Brackett Bridge Company, of fin- cinnati, serving that company in the capacity of secretary, remaining in Cincinnati until 1:0, in which year he returned to Wilmington, becoming a director in the Champion Bridge Company and resuming his original position as traveling representative of that company. continuing in that capacity until he was elected general manager and treasurer of the company in 1904. a position which he still holds. Mr. Owens also Is a director of the Memphis Bridge Company, of Memphis, Tennessee, and is one of the best-known bridge men in the country. In addition to his official duties in connection with these two prominent bridge companies, Mr. Owens also is the secretary of the National Safety Snap Company, of Wilmington, and likewise gives his intelligent attention to the general business welfare of his home city. being actively concerned in all movements having to do with the promotion of Wilmington's best interests, few business men in the city having a higher reputation for enterprise and energy when it comes to "booking" things here- ahout.

In January. 1802. Robert L. Owens was united in marriage to Hannah Cherrington, who was born in Gallipolis. Ohlo, daughter of William and Lucy H. Cherrington, who were the parents of five children. the others being Samuel M., Leida, Lucy M. and Mrs. F. S. Culbertson. Mr. and Mrs. Owens are members of the Episcopal church at Wilming- ton. Mr. Owenk serving the congregation of that communion as a member of the vestry. or executive body of the church. Mr. Owens is a Democrat and gives a good ritizen's attention to the political affairs of his home county, though he never has been included in the office-seeking class of politicians. He is deeply interested in good government and his influence in civic matters ever is on the side of economical and efficient administration of the affairs of the people. Mr. Owens is a master Mason, his connection with that order being with blue lodge No. 52: Royal Arch Masons, Chapter No. 63 and Wilmington Commandery No. 37, Knights Templar.

Robert L. Owens is a typical, np-to-date, hustling American citizen, who is doing well his part in life, bringing to all his relations in life that admirable quality known

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commonly as "horse sense," so aptly referred to in the introduction of this biographical narrative, and he very properly enjoys the highest confidence and esteem of his business associates and friends, not only in Wilmington and Clinton county, but throughout the state, his acquaintance extending fur beyond the mere confines of his home county.

ROBERT R. DOAN.

Robert R. Doan, who is one of the most brilliant young men in Clinton county, and who perhaps, is one of the best-Informed men, young or old, is not only a descendant of one of the earliest pioneers of this county, but a member of a family which has dis- tinguished itself In the political life of this state. That Robert R. Doun is possessed of wide vision, initiative and executive ability is proved by his success in an enterprise in which the people of Clinton county have good reason to take great pride. A short time ago he organized a company to publish the first daily newspaper ever launched in Clinton county.

Robert R. Doan was born on March 10, 1889, In Wilmington, Ohio, and is a son of Albert W. and Jennie (Rutherford) Doan, the former of whom is also a native of Wil- mington, the deputy probate judge of this county, who resides at Wilmington. Albert W. Doan was born on August 25, 1860. His wife, who was a native of Wilmington, Ohio, was born on January 27, 1864. Mr. Doan's mother is also living.

The paternal grandparents of Robert R. Doan were Robert E. and Maria (McMillan) Doan, the former of whom, although eighty-four years old, is engaged in the practice of law at Washington. D. C., where he has lived since 1890. Robert E. Doan was born in Union township, Clinton county, Ohio, on June 23, 1834, and his wife, who was born on August 8, 1836, is also still living. Robert E. Doan is a son of William Doau, who, in 1804. came with his parents, Joseph and Jemima Doan. from Chatham county, North Carolina. They settled near what is now the city of Wilmington, where they purchased nearly one thousand acres of land, and it may be suid bere that Mr. Doan is the owner of twenty-six thousand acres of land in the state of Sonora, Mexico. William Doan was a Whig in politics, and a leading member of the Friends church. He was a farmer most of his life, and he and his wife were the parents of three children, Robert E., Joseph, who died unmarried, and Maria, deceased, who was the wife of Thomas Waltham, also deceased.

The Doan family in Clinton county dates from the coming of Joseph Doan, who arrived bere on November 4, 1804, in company with John Stout, from Chatbam county, North Carolina, by the Flower Gap. John Vestul, who was his wife's brother. died before they arrived at Todd's Fork. On January 22, 1800. Joseph Doan purchased two hundred and thirty-eight acres of land In Posey's survey at one dollar and a half an acre. paying altogether three hundred and fifty-seven dollars, three hundred dollars to Posey and fifty- seven dollars to Nathan Linton. On November 27, 1506, he paid on his land one hundred dollars, and on December 4, 1807, he paid another hundred dollars, Joseph Doan wus born on October 23, 1759, and died on May 28, 1838. His wife was born on May 8, 1762. They were the parents of twelve children. Thomas, John, Ruth, the wife of Joseph Haines: William, Elizabeth, Joseph, Jesse, Jonathan, Jacob, Rachel, the wife of Isaac Hines, Elisha and Mary.

The Hon. Robert E. Doan was a very ambitious young man, who desired to study law, and was accustomed to take law books to the field and studied while he plowed. With his own earnings he attended the Cincinnati law school and became an attorney at Wilmington, Ohio, His mother, who, before her marriage, was Betsy Eachus, a native of Winchester, Virginia, died in 1864, Five years later his father, William Doan, passed away.

Robert E. Doan served as prosecuting attorney and was finally elected to Congress during President Harrison's administration. After serving one term in this office be

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became a partner of Major Anderson, of Washington, D. C., and when Major Anderson was appointed judge of the United States District Court, Mr. Doan continued the prac- tice of his profession alone, and is still engaged in the practice. He is now president of the National Blographical Society of Washington and is also a charter member and historian of the Ohio Historical Society at Washington.

It is Robert Doau's original conception which launched and founded, In Washing- ton, D. C., in 1910, the International Law Association of the United States, Mexico and the Dominion of Canada, which received the endorsement of the highest judicial tribunal in the world, the supreme court of the United States. Mr. Doan served one year as secretary of the Steele-Evans Manufacturing Company and as secretary-treasurer of the Clinton Publishing Company. His literary efforts have been published in the Frank A. Munsey's publications and a syndicate of eastern newspapers. Ile is acquainted and corresponds with Colonel Roosevelt, which pleasant relations were also maintained with the late Elbert Hubbard and wife.

To return to his early history, it may be said that both of Robert E. Donn's parents were members of the Friends church; that he attended an academy at Harveysburg, Warren county, Ohio, and afterward taught school in Warren, Greene and Clinton coun- ties, in this way earning money to pay for his law course. He finished the course in the Cincinnati law school and received his diploma with the degree of Bachelor of Laws on April 19, 1857. For some time he was in partnership with his cousin, A. W. Doan, In the practice of law, the firm having been dissolved fifteen years Inter, when A. W. Doan was elected judge of the court of common pleas. In 1850 he made seventy-seven speeches in Invor of James A. Garfield's election to the Presidency in the state of Ohio, In which yenr he was a Presidential elector from the Clinton county district, and named by neclamation. He was a candidate for Congress in that year, but was defeated for the nomination, receiving, however, only thirteen votes less than the nominee. In 1857 he was married to Maria MeMillan, a native of Clinton county, and to this union were born six children, Clinton, who was a farmer, is dereased. He was a specialist in raising thoroughbred horses; Albert W. is the father of Robert R., the Immediate subject of this review ; Charles died at the age of fifteen: Burritt died at the age of fourteen; Willie died at the age of six; Frank M. died in Arizona. He was collector of customs in that state, having been appointed to this position by President Mckinley. The commission of Frank M. Doan was the last which President MeKinley ever signed before his death.

In addition to his law practice. Robert E. Doan has large Interests in copper mines, and is niso heavily interested in a publishing company at Washington, D. C. For many years he maintained bis large residence In the city of Wilmington, where bis grandson, Robert R., now lives.

Albert W. Doan attended the public schools of Wilmington, and later was a student during 1878-79:50 at the normal school at Lebanon. Ohlo. Upon returning to Wilming- ton from school he was elected mayor of Wilmington, in which office he served four terms of two years ench. For several years he was engaged In traveling. but in 1913 was appointed deputy probate judge of Clinton county, an office which he is now holding. Ile is a Republican in politics, and fraternally, a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He was married on February 6. 1857. and Robert R. Is the only child.

Robert R. Doan received his early education in the public schools of Wilmington, Ohlo, and later became a student of Wilmington College for four years. Still later he was a student at Ohlo Wesleyan University for a year, where be pursued a literary course. After this he was a student at Georgetown University, near Washington, D. C., where he was a law student. In 1913 Mr. Doan returned to Wilmington and engaged in the printing and publishing business. On November 1. 1914, he started the Clinton Rerier, a monthly magazine, and in April, 1915, organized the company to publish the

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first daily newspaper ever issued in Clinton county. Mr. Doan's firm does job printing and local publishing.

On January 5, 1915, Mr. Doan was married to Mabel Compton, a native of Cham- paign, Illinois, and a daughter of L. L. Compton and wife, the former of whom is an architect of Wilmington, Ohio.

Mr. and Mrs. Doan are members of the Friends church at Wilmington. He is a Republican in politics and a very ambitious young man, one entirely worthy of the splendid career of many of the Doan family in this county. He and his wife are popular socially in this city, and, of course, are well known.

FRANK L. MILLER.

The life history of him whose name heads this sketch is closely identified with the history of Wilmington and Clinton county, Ohio. His life has been one of untiring activity and has been crowned with a degree of success attained by only those who devote themselves indefatigably to the work before them. He is of a high type of busi- ness man and none more than he deserves a fitting recognition among the men whose genius and abilities have achieved results that are commendable.

The subject of this sketch is descended from a sterling line of ancestors, the family on the paternal side having orginated in Wales, where the subject's great-great-grand- father, Peter Miller, was born in 1740. In young manhood be came to America, settling near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he married Catherine Rhodes, who was of Dutch desrent and a Lutheran in her religious faith. To them were born five children, John, Jacob. Abraham, Isaac and Elizabeth. Of these, Isane. Sr., was the subject's great- grandfather, and was born on February 5. 1777. Peter. the father of these children moved with his family to Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and cleared land ready for farming. From here he enlisted in behalf of the colonies against the British during the war for independence, but was wounded and sent to a hospital, where he died during the war, his burial place being onknown. He left his widow in severe financial straits, and she was compelled to bind out the children in order to serure for them a living. Isaac Miller, Sr., one of these children, was adopted at the age of nine months by John MeKibben, who in about 1756 removed to Bourbon county, Kentucky. When Isnne Miller, Sr .. was about twenty years of age he was sent to the Northwest Territory with a com- pany of surveyors who John McKibben had employed to survey a twelve hundred-acre tract of land which he had purchased. That tract, then in the "Throckmorton survey." lies near Farmer's Station on the Baltimore & Ohio rafiroad In Clinton county. Ohio. Isaac Miller's duty was to supply this party of surveyors with fresh meat. In 1801 Mr. MeKibben gave Isaac Miller, Sr., two hundred acres of this tract in recognition of his faithful services. Thus Isaac Miller, Sr., became the first of the family to permanently locate in Clinton county. On January 1, 1804, he married Mary Stewart, a native of Warren county, Ohio, and together they established their home in Clinton county. There they spent the remainder of their days; their deaths occurred in the amme month, the father dying on January 5, 1557, and the mother on January 27, 1857. To them were born twelve children, namely : William, Elizabeth. Mary, Isaac, Jr., Jane, Catherine, Hannah, Fletcher, Rebecca, James, Milton and Margaret. Isane Miller, Sr., who was the subject's great-grandfather, became a soldier in the War of 1812, serving under Gen. Allen Tremble at Ft. Wayne.

Isaac Miller, Jr .. the grandfather of Frank L. Miller, was born on July 30, 1812. and remained on the home farm until twenty-four years of age. On September 17, 1S335. he married Margaret Hildebrant, who was born on February 20. 1820, in Hunterton county. New Jersey. In 1821 he bought a hundred and eighty-six acres of land near New Antioch, Ohio, but in 1538 sold this land and went overland to Stephenson county, Illinois, where he bought a farm of two hundred and forty aeres. On this he remained about

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twelve years. In 1850 the family visited Ohio and while there Mr. Miller traded his Illinois farm for one in Washington township, Clinton county. For his second wife Isane Miller married Mrs. Martha E. Meeker. Isaac Miller became the father of the following children : Columbus; Ralph; Isaac N .; William; Mary E., who married John M. Vandewart; Lydia, the wife of Joseph Hunter; Camelia, the wife of Joel Johnson; Charles; Eva L., the wife of Frederick Johnson ; and Alice, the wife of William Doke.

William Miller, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born at the town of Oswego, Stephenson county, Illinois, on November 17. 1842. He was about seven years of age when the family returned to Clinton county, Oblo, and here he was reared to man- hood. He attended the district schools and received a fair education. In June, 1862, William Miller eulisted In Company C, Seventy-ninth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but after seven months service he was honorably discharged because of ill health. On his return to civil life, Mr. Miller married on December 25, 1863, Rachel Louise Moore, who was born in Washington township, Clinton county, on December 29, 1845. Thereafter Mr. Miller farmed his father's place until his father gave him fifty acres of land on which he lived for four years. Then he moved to Sabina, Oblo, and engaged in the manufacture of tile, under the name of the Sabina Tile Works, which occupied bis attention for seven years, at the end of which period he sold out, and started a butcher shop to which he devoted himself for fourteen years. He then moved to Springfield, Ohto, but a year later moved to Bowersville, Greene county, where he lived for four years, following the meat business. He then bought a hundred acres of land in Wash- Ington township. Clinton county, where he lived until 1900, when he moved to Wilming- ton, where he now resides. William Miller became a specialist in the raising of straw- berries in which he became widely known throughout central Ohio. He had a large patch of strawberry plants on his farm, the cultivation of which required thirty hands during the fruit season. Mr. Miller is known familiarly as "Strawberry" Miller because of his reputation as a successful grower of this luscious fruit. He has also raised con- siderable other small fruit on his place and has been very successful as a horticulturist. He took a deep interest in public affairs, being a Republican in his political views, and in 1896 was elected county commissioner of Clinton county, and served with credit to himself and to the advantage of his constituents, who were so well pleased with the discharge of his official duties that they re-elected him to serve a second term. He and his wife were members of the Christian church.

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History of Clinton County, Ohio Its People, Industries, and Institutions, with Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families, Part 54

Author: Albert J. Brown (A.M.) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago : W.H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1108

Author: Albert J. Brown (A.M.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : W.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1108